I’m sure CS readers know that the Passion gospels of Palm Sunday and Good Friday need not be done as they are presented in the missalette. How many sitting in the purple chair would prefer the deacon or priest to just read the Passion?

10 Responses to The Armchair Liturgist: Passion Gospels

Actually, since 1988, the people in the pews are not supposed to be saying anything during the Passion. The circular letter from Rome clarifying the rules for the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week made that abundantly clear. Missalette makers have yet to catch up.

Here the people do part of the Passions, and I would have no problem making the change, but I think that would not be well received. Maybe something to consider down the road. (Curiously, Msgr Peter Eliot, who is both fairly conservative about rubrics, and I had thought, careful, says its okay to have the people do part of the reading on Palm Sunday, using the “simple” form of that day’s liturgy; per Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, paragraph 150.)

Section 33 of Paschale Solemnitatis, issued in 1988, the specific liturgical rule that informs how the Missal and Lectionary are to be interpreted in this regard, provides as follows:

33. The passion narrative occupies a special place. It should be sung or read in the traditional way, that is, by three persons who take the part of Christ, the narrator, and the people. The passion is proclaimed by deacons or priests, or by lay readers. In the latter case, the part of the Christ should be reserved to the priest. … For the spiritual good of the faithful, the passion should be proclaimed in its entirety, and the readings that proceed it should not be omitted.

Given this very specific direction, I don’t see how the people in general can be licitly permitted to participate in the proclamation of the Passion, unless the Latin original text allows for it in a way not translated in English (though, usually, when hunting for the legitimacy of a loophole that seems to appear in English, checking the Latin may often result in clarifying that it’s illusory!).

“How many sitting in the purple chair would prefer the deacon or priest to just read the Passion?”

For some years now I have proclaimed the Passion alone and at the Mass at which my deacon is preaching, he proclaims it alone. While some parishioners have told me they miss the three reader presentation, the general response has been very positive.

Todd, do you recall, several years ago in our Waterloo parish, when Christine read the Passion, alone and with…passion? The lighting was right, and the congregation seemed to pay close attention. She was able to read it with the proper inflections and feeling that should be expected.

I remember liking it and had been thinking of offering that as an option at my current parish.

I too shared the thrill/terror of shouting “Crucify him!”, thinking to my self, “I would never have said that!”…

about Todd Flowerday

A Roman Catholic lay person, married (since 1996), with one adopted child (since 2001). I serve in worship and spiritual life in a midwestern university parish.

about John Donaghy

John is a lay missionary since 2007 with a parish in western Honduras. Before that he served in campus ministry and social justice ministry in Iowa. His ministry blog is http://hermanojuancito.blogspot.com

He also blogs reflections on the lectionary and saints/heroes/events of the date at http://walktheway.wordpress.com

He'll be a long-term contributor here analyzing the Latin American bishops' document from their 2007 Aparecida Conference.